Here is the next chapter. For this chapter I wanted to give Severus a friend and thought that the head of Hufflepuff house would have been unexpected so I went with that. I wanted to point out that she doesn't care about his dark past as he is no longer dark (in that he is no longer a practicing deatheater) and cares only about what he elects to do now. If he does become truly dark again then that may end their friendship but for now he is merely neutral. Please read and review it and we'll see where it goes. Love Moon xxx

Harry walked down to the front door and outside where he turned right and headed for the greenhouses in particular greenhouse number one. He entered and immediately went over to Neville smiling at the excited boy. Neville loved Herbology which he had told Harry and boy did it show. He was practically bouncing on his feet. Augusta was now used to Neville not being in Gryffindor and when she had heard how happy he was she couldn't remain mad. Besides which she knew in her heart of hearts that neither Frank nor Alice would have been have mad if Neville had not gone to Gryffindor.

Inside the greenhouse there was one whole window which was filled with a fern of some sort which did block out the light on that side. In the middle of the room was a huge planting section which contained plants which all had some kind of fabric over them obscuring them from view. Harry couldn't help wondering what was underneath those cloths but he didn't look because he didn't wish to disturb them in case he did something wrong. They were only there a moment when a jolly looking stout witch entered and smiled at them all. This was Professor Sprout he knew it.

"Hello class. I'm Professor Sprout and welcome to Herbology. In front of you on the table you will see various covered plants and I will ask you to please step up to the table in any location you prefer. You must however remember where you choose to go because it will be your position for the year ahead!" she instructed as Harry followed his gut and ended up beside Neville on one side and Terry on the other by complete chance. He was amazed as he'd been focused solely on the area and how it made him feel. He hadn't been thinking of who would be beside him. Draco Malfoy was opposite him and Hermione was beside him. He was unable to hide his distain sneering at her repeatedly unaware that Professor Sprout was watching him. Harry could see it and new Draco would be in trouble if he didn't stop sneering and insulting her.

"Ok enough. Ten points from Slytherin you silly little boy. If you spent more time focused on your lesson then insulting others around you, you'd be more intelligent. Professor Snape is my friend and he would be unhappy to find out that you've lost your house ten points before the lesson even properly gets underway. Everyone focus on the stupidity of Mr um oh yes it says Malfoy here in the register. Do not be stupid like him or you will lose points for your house too!" she instructed as everyone turned to Draco who looked mortified as did Hermione who cried slightly to his side. It wasn't fair that the teacher had made everyone look their way because now they would see her cry.

"Well what are you waiting for Malfoy apologise to her so we can get on with the lesson!" she commanded seriously. Harry liked that about her. He liked that she truly did look ridiculous but was very serious and not to be underestimated at any cost. He could see that many people would have considered her a pushover when she wasn't and they would have gotten their arses handed to them like Malfoy had. He smirked slightly at that. Draco floundered as everyone looked at him.

"Well I'd rather not because that filthy little mudblood there doesn't deserve it but since you're all being awkward and looking at me I will say I am sorry!" he said pointing at Hermione and smiling as tears fell from her eyes as Pomona gasped her hand flying to her mouth in shock. Even Harry looked disgusted and before he could stop himself he found himself speaking even though he really didn't think he should have. It was instinctual and not something he could control in the moment.

"Excuse me take that back immediately if not sooner. I will not listen to this unconscionable vocabulary from your mouth. In the name of Merlin man which animal taught you this vile word? You had better say you're sorry right now you filthy little scumbag!" he snapped as Pomona rounded on him looking very seriously indeed.

"Mr Potter five points from Ravenclaw for cursing in my lesson. I will not have it. Although he did curse which is wrong he is not wrong in saying that the person you heard this from is an animal. I will be speaking to your head of house about this nonsense. Such words should be forbidden in school and are certainly forbidden in my lesson!" she snapped as he rounded on her looking defiant.

"What the hell? What does it matter to you when you're not a filthy little mudblood yourself?" he snapped as Harry's wandless magic kicked in grabbing Draco's head and smashing in onto the table edge and leaving a huge bruise on his forehead and cheeks. He'd need to think again.

Pomona looked at him in awe. She had assumed he'd smacked his own head against the table in order to hurt himself and make her class look dangerous to get her in trouble but he'd really just made himself look silly and she knew she'd never get in trouble. Severus was one of her best friends and he'd find it most interesting to hear and see the memory of her first lesson. He did have a past and a dark one at that but Pomona being ever the level headed woman was able to see past that and gain a great friend in the meantime. When he'd turned his back on the dark arts he'd become a lot less stressed out and much more reserved and overall a great friend and confident. She had never judged him for his past only the things he did now and he had always appreciated having someone whom she could tell anything to who would never judge her and likewise. They both thought it was very funny that Slytherin hated Hufflepuff and vice versa.

"Mr Malfoy hurting yourself isn't going to get you anywhere. You have detention with me for a week. Would you care to go for the month?" she sneered as he seemed even more stunned.

"You can't do that. My father will hear about this mark my words!" he snapped as she snapped back at the defiant little shit.

"YES HE WILL FROM ME! You have one month's detention. Now moving on everyone step forward and remove the cloths on your plants. You will each see a different plant before you and it is your job to look up what care they need and care for them all year long. You will need to find out what the name of the plant is and what it needs. Some plants will need more than others and some will need less. Off your go now!" she said as Harry stepped forward and removed the cloth from his plant gasping aloud.

"Oh wow Devils Snare! What a cool plant. Excuse me ma'am but I've already read all about this plant and how to care for it in my excitement before I came to school. What would you like me to do now?" he asked as she walked towards him stunned.

"Please tell me about them if you would Mr Potter?" she asked as he smiled at her. He really liked this lesson. It seemed like it was going to be very hands on.

"Well Devils Snare is usually grown in chests or dark places. You must water it with water and nutrient potions once a week. It wants to live in a dark place and is completely allergic to sunlight. Should it get sunlight it will die and wither away almost immediately. If dark spaces are not available for it one should be transfigured for it immediately. If it is attacked by fire of any kind you will not be able to save it no matter what you do!" he intoned seriously as she gasped.

"I daresay Mr Potter that was perfect. I've never had anyone that perfect on their first lesson. Twenty points to Ravenclaw for seriously planning ahead and considering all contingencies. I have no choice but to award such points for such excellence. How much of your book did you read?" she asked as he beamed up at her pride evident on his face. He loved doing well as it filled him with a sense of contentment he could rarely get from anything else.

"Well I read all of it. In fact I was so excited ma'am that I read all of my books cover to cover!" he said blushing as Terry giggled beside him.

"You know Harry I did that also. I just didn't wish to be behind others!" he said as Pomona's expression softened. Terry explained all about his viperous tulip and how to care for it receiving the same twenty points.

"Well done. I daresay Ravenclaw has well and truly earned those points. Technically you're not meant to do that but as you didn't know about it it's alright. Actually there's no firm rule against it and I would actually recommend doing it each summer before coming to school so you can focus more on your studies in class then on needing to read up in whatever it is all the time. Well done everyone. That's it for today's lesson!" she said as everyone packed up and left after she had reviewed all of their work of course. Harry Stayed behind to learn about what she thought of his parents and he would once more be shocked. This would be interesting indeed.